Chapter 387: Ending 198 (an extra chapter)_3
Each group of marking officers would select the top fifty from five hundred examination papers, handing them over to the two chief examiners. These were basically the candidates who could become tribute scholars.
Of course, these two chief examiners would carefully review the papers, setting aside those with discrepancies. The discarded papers would be ranked according to their scores, and depending on how many tribute scholars were short, the chief examiners would pick from the top of the discarded pile.
There were also ten special positions.
These were the people pushed into the process by His Majesty and the ministers.
The names of these people were directly reported, whether or not they were among the final two hundred exam papers did not matter.
If they happened to be among them, then this year’s count of tribute scholars would be two hundred. If not, it would simply mean adding a few more.
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As for how these people would be ranked in the subsequent Palace Examination, that was not the concern of the marking officers.
After the whole process of copying, grading, initial review, re-reviewing, and ranking, the results would not be posted until the next month.
Xiao Liulang seemed very calm, living each day as usual, taking Xiaojingkong to and from school, as if life was no different from before the examination.
Gu Jiao also seemed very calm, showing no signs of having bet all her wealth.
Gu Jinyu had not been having a good time recently. Ever since her parentage was exposed by Zhuang Mengdie, her popularity in the school had plummeted, with many girls from wealthy families who used to curry favors with her now gradually distancing themselves.
In frustration, she had taken medical leave at home.
One day, while she was recuperating at home, Nurse Qi suddenly came to visit.
Nurse Qi was an old maid who was highly respected by the tactful concubine.
Gu Jinyu enthusiastically welcomed her: “What brings Nurse Qi here?”
Nurse Qi patted Gu Jinyu’s hand with a full smile, saying, “Your mother asked about you. She didn’t know you were sick. Didn’t you know she was worried about you?”
Gu Jinyu was moved and replied softly, “It isn’t a serious illness, I didn’t want to bother my aunt.”
Nurse Qi chided her, “Why are you being so formal?”
Gu Jinyu lowered her eyes and smiled.
Nurse Qi had the little palace maid place several brocade boxes on the table, “These are all gifts from your mother, there’re snow lotuses and ginseng, they are all top-of-the-line items, remember to eat them.”
Gu Jinyu gratefully said, “Thank you very much, Nurse Qi.”
Nurse Qi held her hand, saying, “We are family, don’t mention it. Your mother has no daughters, she has always treated you as her own. Take good care of your health and don’t let your mother worry.”
“Yes, I will remember.” Gu Jinyu dutifully replied.
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Nurse Qi then got to the point: “Ah, there is another matter. Your mother wants to see you.”
Gu Jinyu followed Nurse Qi into the palace.
As the head of a palace, the Tactful Concubine had her own independent palace and did not have to allow other junior concubines to live in her side hall. She lived in the Changchun Palace with the Fifth Prince, leading quite a carefree life.
On this sunny day, the Tactful Concubine was checking the Fifth Prince’s homework in a pavilion within the Changchun Palace.
Gu Jinyu came forward to greet her, “Aunt.”
The Tactful Concubine gestured for her to come, “Good timing, Xiaowu just finished writing an essay. Take a look.”
“Yes.” Gu Jinyu sat next to the Tactful concubine, who then handed her the Fifth Prince’s essay.
The Fifth Prince was the same age as Gu Chenglin. Every day, he went to the study room to study with his brothers under the guidance of a highly respected scholar in the court.
To be honest, the Fifth Prince’s scholarly talent wasn’t that good.
His homework was basically done by Gu Jinyu.
After looking over it, Gu Jinyu smiled and praised, “The Fifth Prince has made progress.”
“I think so too!” The Tactful Concubine was delighted with this response. She had the palace maid pack up the essay, then turned to Gu Jinyu with a doting look, “You child, you did such a big thing in the county, but you didn’t even peep a word, did you?”
“Huh?” Gu Jinyu was startled.
The change in topic caught her off guard.
The Tactful Concubine chided her, pulling her hand to say, “You still want to hide it? If I hadn’t brought some dessert to His Majesty just now, I would have never known that you did such a big thing behind our backs! Why are you always so low key?”
Gu Jinyu became more puzzled, what did she do?
The Tactful Concubine tightly gripped her hand, her eyes full of excitement, “The bellows!”